Emergency Room wait so long, 33 year old dies!

Lauren Ellerman

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This article is upsetting - but not the first time we have heard about an emergency room wait being so long that a person does not receive treatment in time.

LA Times reports

"Christopher Jones arrived at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar on Sunday complaining of chest pains. Jones, 33, was told to sit in the waiting room until it was his turn. He didn't receive a simple test to determine whether his heart was functioning properly, a measure that is standard practice nationally in cases of chest pain, Los Angeles County officials said. After more than three hours, Jones got up, walked outside, collapsed face down on the pavement and died within minutes."

Why a three hour wait? Too many people? Too few staff? Too many people relying on the emergency room instead of primary care physicians? Clearly this is a problem nationwide, and something needs to be done. What a tragedy - he sought medical treatment, and died waiting.

We have received similar calls from family members on ER negligence, or worse, ER neglect. Do you think maybe our laws can do something about this - or will we just have to suffer as hospitals limit emergency care staff?

For more information on this subject, please refer to our section on Medical Malpractice and Negligent Care.